Connector assembly

Details Connector assembly Connector assembly

1996-12-12

1998-09-01

Nguyen, Khiem

Electrical connectors

With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...

Retaining means

439343, 439701, H01R 1362

Patent

active

058001980

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a connector assembly for interconnecting optical and/or electrical conductors, comprising a first connector part for one or more first conductors and a second connector part for one or more second conductors, said second connector part being adapted to be inserted into a housing of the first connector part with an insertion end to establish a connection between the respective conductors.
Such a connector assembly is disclosed in EP-A-0 602 726. FIG. 6 of this document shows an embodiment wherein the second connector part projects through an opening in a printed circuit board or frame part. When in this embodiment one connector part is withdrawn from the other connector part, this other connector part is no longer held at its location on the printed circuit board or frame part.
The invention aims to provide an improved connector assembly of the above-mentioned type.
To this end the connector assembly of the invention is characterized by a coupling auxiliary piece adapted to be attached to a support plate or the like, said coupling auxiliary piece comprising means for receiving and supporting each connector part independent of the other connector part, wherein the second connector part in its position received in the coupling auxiliary part is inserted into the first connector part if said first connector part is received in the coupling auxiliary piece.
In this manner a connector assembly is obtained wherein each connector part is held at its location on the printed circuit board, the frame part or other support plate of this type by the coupling auxiliary piece independently of the other connector part. Decoupling a connection between both connector parts is thereby very simple.
The invention will be further explained by reference to the drawing in which an embodiment is schematically shown.
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first connector part of an embodiment of the connector assembly according to the invention.
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the second connector part of the embodiment of the connector assembly of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 shows both connector parts of FIGS. 1 and 2 in coupled position together with the corresponding coupling auxiliary piece.
FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the connector assembly of FIG. 3, wherein the second connector part is decoupled.
FIG. 5 shows a perspective view corresponding with FIG. 4, wherein the first connector part is decoupled.
FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the coupling auxiliary piece of the connector assembly according to the invention at the side of the second connector part.
FIG. 1 shows a first connector part 1 of a connector assembly for interconnecting optical and/or electrical conductors. This connector part 1 comprises a housing 2 made of plastic material and attached to an end edge of a printed circuit board 3 schematically shown. As further described in the above-mentioned European patent application EP-A-0 602 726 an alignment piece not further shown for the optical/electrical conductors is received in this printed circuit board, wherein each conductor comprises a contact pad located in the upper surface of the alignment piece. For a detailed description reference is made to this European patent application. Two opposite outer walls 4, 5 of the housing 2 of the connector part 1 are provided with slots 6 with a predetermined profile.
The connector assembly described comprises a second connector part 7 shown in a perspective view in FIG. 2. This second connector part 7 is provided with an alignment piece 8, optical conductors of a flat cable 9 not further shown being attached in this alignment piece in the embodiment described. The connector part 7 is provided with a slidable cap 10 guided on a housing 11 of the second connector part 7 movable forward and backward. In the position shown in FIG. 2 the cap 10 protects the contact pads of the conductors located in the upper surface of the alignment piece 8. The connector part 7 is also described in further detail in European patent application EP-A-0 602 726. The connect

REFERENCES:
patent: 4715820 (1987-12-01), Andrews, Jr. et al.
patent: 4786259 (1988-11-01), Paul
patent: 5281161 (1994-01-01), Kanai
patent: 5312276 (1994-05-01), Hnatuck et al.
Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 14, No. 195 (P-1039) (4138) 20 Apr. 1990 & JP, A, 02 039 111 (NEC Corporation).

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